And in IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 10 runs in a thrilling encounter at Eden Gardens.

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Campaigning for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections reached its peak as only two days are left for it to close. 116 constituencies, spread over 13 states and 2 Union Territories, will go to polls on the 23rd of this month. Voting in this phase will take place for all 26 constituencies in Gujarat, 20 in Kerala, 14 each in Maharashtra and Karnataka, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, 7 in Chhattisgarh, 6 in Odisha, 5 each in Bihar and West Bengal, 4 in Assam, 2 in Goa, 1 each in Jammu and Kashmir, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Tripura.

Leaders from various political parties are holding rallies and roadshows across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address multiple rallies in West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh today. In west Bengal, Mr. Modi will address a public meeting at Buniyadpur in South Dinajpur district this morning. In Bihar, Prime Minister will campaign in Araria constituency.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address their fourth election rally in Bihar during ongoing election campaign in the state. Mr Modi will address election meeting at Forbesganj in Araria Lok Sabha constituency. Senior JD( U) leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will share dias with PM. While Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address rally in Supaul. RJD leader Tejaswi Prasad Yadav and Hindustani Awam Morcha Chief Jitan Ram Manjhi will be on dias with Rahul Gandhi. Both Constituency Araria and Supaul along with three other constittuencies Madhepura, Khagaria and Jhanjharpur will go to polls in the third Phase on April 23. with K K Lal, Arti Rana, AIR News."

Mr. Modi will also address rallies in Etah and Bareily districts of Uttar Pradesh. Our correspondent has filed this report:-

"BJP senior leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies at Etah and Bareilly this afternoon. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will campaign in Farrukhabad Moradabad and Kannauj. Congress leaders Raj Babbar and Pramod Tiwari are slated to take part in poll publicity activities at Jaunpur, Sultanpur and Amethi. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati and RLD chief Ajit Singh will address joint rallies at Rampur and Firozabad today. MS Yadav, AIR News, Etah".

BJP President Amit Shah will campaign for the party at Shimoga in Karnataka and Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha in Kerala today. Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address rallies in Bihar and Chhattisgarh today.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has charged the Congress of building a false narrative around electronic voting machines and demonetisation. In an interview to a private TV channel, Mr. Modi said his government has achieved milestones in various fields of developments and in the next five years, will work faster to achieve the dreams of the common people. Prime Minister also charged the opposition of making false promises to the people and following a communal agenda. Mr. Modi alleged that Congress leaders have been meeting those convicted by courts but he will continue to deal firmly with separatists. Prime Minister said Congress leaders who question the candidature of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, who is contesting for the Lok Sabha seat from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, are themselves out on bail. On his government's fight against corruption, Mr. Modi said,

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Election Commission has imposed a 48 hour ban on Himachal Pradesh State BJP President Satpal Satti for his remarks against Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The ban will come into force from 10 AM today.

The Commission observed that the impugned statement made by Satpal Satti, during the election campaign held at Ramshehar of Solan district in Himachal Pradesh, is not only indecent but also derogatory and totally uncalled for.

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Twelve coaches of the Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express derailed near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh early morning today. The train was going to New Delhi when the incident occurred near Rooma railway station near Kanpur around 1 AM. According to railway officials, at least 13 people were injured in the incident. The injured have been admitted in a hospital in Kanpur. CPRO Northern Central Railway, Gaurav Krishan Bansal told AIR that no causality is reported in the accident. Railways has diverted 13 trains and canceled one train. Mr Bansal said diverted rail traffic will be restored soon. All senior rail and administration officers are on spot.

Additional Director General (Public Relations) in Ministry of Railways, Smita Vats Sharma said, accident Relief Train and Accident Relief Medical Equipment are at the site and all the passengers have been evacuated.

In Jammu & Kashmir, security forces killed one terrorist in Sopore area of Baramulla district yesterday evening. Another terrorist is believed to be trapped in Wattergam area after army cordoned off the area for search operation. The encounter broke out after terrorists attacked an Army patrolling party and fired indiscriminately. Army personnel retaliated the gunfire in which one terrorist was killed.

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The foundation ceremony of the Hindu temple to be built in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates will be held today. Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha will preside over the ceremony.

"In February 2018, Prime Minister Modi had witnessed the Bhumipujan of the land where the historic Hindu temple is to be constructed in Abu Dhabi during his visit to the UAE. PM Modi had witnessed the ceremony through a live stream at the Dubai Opera. He had also unveiled a model structure of the temple with seven towers representing the seven emirates in the UAE. The temple complex is going to be a special place which is being designed to be an architectural ode to the value of human harmony as espoused by India and the UAE. Kanchan Prasad, AIR NEWS, ABU DHABI."

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Russia has dismissed the findings of Mueller report. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the report failed to present clear evidence of any meddling by Moscow in the 2016 US elections.

He also warned that such reports would influence the US-Russia relations which were not in best of shape lately.

The document is the product of a 22-month investigation by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller. He was appointed to probe Russian interference in the 2016 elections and possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

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Former World Champion, Mirabai Chanu will spearhead India’s challenge at the Asian Weightlifting Championship, 2019 that begins at Ningbo, China today. Chanu will be competing in the 49kg category from 48kg following the International Weightlifting Federations’s rejig of weight categories. She has made a strong comeback after having suffered a lower-back injury that kept her out of action for nearly nine months. She will have potent competitors.

Among male weightlifters, India’s hopes will be on Jeremy Lalrinnunga, the gold-medallist at the Youth Olympic Games. Commonwealth Games champion, Sathish Sivalingam has pulled out owing to performance troubles.

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In IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 10 runs in a thrilling encounter at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last night. Put into bat, Bangalore posted a challenging total of 213 for 4 against Kolkata in the stipulated 20 overs. Captain Virat Kohli's brilliant 58 ball 100 and Moeen Ali's quick 66 in 28 balls helped Bangalore to set the massive target for the hosts.

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In Santosh Trophy Football tournament, Services have entered the final defeating Karnataka via a penalty shootout 4-3 in a semi-final match played at Ludhiana. In the final, Services will clash with Punjab tomorrow.

Earlier, Punjab beat Goa 2-1 to reach the final.

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NEWSPAPER HEADLIENS

In the midst of feverish election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, papers today have given different leads. The Asian Age writes, old rivals Maya, Mulayam share stage after 24 years.

"NAMO TV can air Modi's live speeches-says EC" is an Asian Age headline.

Now 112 will be a pan India emergency number. The Asian Age reports that 112 helpline is active in 20 states and Union Territories. It integrates Fire, Police & Women's Helpline numbers and is being implemented from the Nirbhaya Fund.

Another decision in concurrence with international practice is to name chemists & druggists as pharmacists, according to the Health Ministry, reports The Hindu.

The Hindu Business Line carries stories on the developing villages in Madhya Pradesh - organic cotton being adopted by many farmers there, as also an NGO Samarthan's yellow gang helping sanitise rural areas in Madhya Pradesh.

The Indian Express writes about Spice Jet hiring 100 pilots, 400 Cabin and Technical Staff from Jet Airways after the later was grounded recently.

This year's Royal Society London includes an Indian scientst Gagandeep Kang apart from three Indian origin scientists. She is known for her work on Rota Virus injections in children, says an HinduT report.